Traverse City’s New Economy Rises On Old Brownfields

"Ten years after leaders started their first brownfield projects, this city of 15,000 residents is rebuilding its downtown, modernizing its parks and public spaces, and achieving new civic dynamism. Construction is yielding five-story, mixed-use buildings along the Boardman, new downtown office buildings, architecturally distinguished parking decks, midtown residences, and one of America's most ambitious historic restoration projects. Almost all of this renewal flows from the $27 million that public officials and developers gathered from Michigan's brownfield redevelopment program. In fact, through 2004, Traverse City secured more brownfield incentives than the next two cities, Detroit and Lansing, combined."